Engineers at the Metrodome in Minneapolis used a shotgun Monday afternoon to rupture a roof panel that was under stress from accumulated ice.
By using a precision shot, the engineers caused the panel to fail in an area away from the clamps that hold the tarp to the roof's frame, said Pat Milan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. That makes repairs easier.
The panel became to fifth to break after a 17-inch snowstorm hit the Twin Cities the weekend of Dec. 11.
"Engineers have told the staff that there are several additional panels in the red zone ... still a risk, and they'll make a decision on whether to purposely rupture more panels," Milan said.
Crews had fashioned the patches from the inner liner of the roof, which is Teflon-coated Fiberglas the same as the exterior layer.
The patches don't allow the Dome to be inflated, but they had kept heat in the Dome to help melt the snow. Much of the snow that's been melted off the roof in recent days has drained onto the Dome's field.
"But we still have an accumulation of water up there on some panels," Lester said.
By the end of the week, Dome officials hope to have a better idea of how long the repairs will take, he said.
Before you get done laughing at the vikings, their final home game against the Bears was played at TCF Stadium of the Gophers. The stadium has a capacity of around 51,000.
After allowing college students free admission, the official attendance for the final home game against the division rival Bears on MNF was 40,504.
They have to move the franchise with attendance figures like that. Playing at Ford Field and TCF sure must have helped their league low in revenue.